Lime-spreading machine



Maih 27, 1928.

E. ZACHRISON LIME SPREADING MACHINE Filed June 11, 1924 Patented Mar. 27, 1928.

UNITED sirram LIME-SPREADING Application filed June 11, 1924. Serial no; 719,230.

This invent-ion relates to a lime spreading machine. 7

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a simple and improved form of lime spreading machine.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved means in connection with a lime spreading device for pulveriz ing or breaking up the lumps of lime prior to discharging the. lime from the hopper or container.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved form of distributing mechanism for a. limespreading machine.

A still further objectof the invention. is to provide-an improved form ofhopper or container for a lime spreading machine in which the lime is directed by the construct.ion of the hopper to a centrally located opening in the hopper from where it is discharged onto my improved distributing mechanism. j a 2 These and other objects, are accomplished by providing-a construction and an arrangement of the various parts in. the manner hereinafter described and particularly pointed out inthe appended claim.

Referring, to the draw-rugs, Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of my improved lime form a substantially rectangular framework which is adapted to. receive and support therein a hopper 14 of a construction hereinafter described. Secured to the front frame member 12 are two downwardly extending or inclined supplemental frame members 15 which have their forward ends supported on a forward steering truck 16,

which, in turn, is provided with the usual wheels 17. The rearward frame member 13 is provided with'similarly arranged supplemental frame members 18 which have their lower rearward ends mounted on a suitable axle The-axle 19 is provided with the usual carrying wheels 20. Journaled on a hub portion (not shown) of one of the carrying wheels 20 is a drive sprocket 21. The

drive sprocket is provided with a clutch member (not shown) which is adapted for operatively connecting the sprocket, 21 with one of the carrying: wheels 20. The clutch 22 which extends forwardlyto the forward .end of the hopper in a manner 'soas to'be within. easy reach of. the operator for throwmg the clutch in and out of engagement. This clutch mechanismv is of any Well known construction. and for this reason it is be lieved that a more detailed description orillustration of the construction'is unnecessary.

One of the important features of my inventio n isthe construction of my improved hopper which is provided with two vertically extending sidesf23, one of which is provided with a'hingedpo'rtion' 2.4 which swings about hinges 25 for lowering one side of the hopper when the hopper is being loaded with lime. ,The. hopper'is provided with forwardly and rearwardly-inclined bottoms 26 and 27, respectively, which directs the, lime as it-is being distributed toward the'transversecenter of. the hopper. The rearwardly inclined bottom 27 of thehopper is curved slightly'atthe transverse center of the hopper as'shown at 28 andterminates as shown at29 on a line substantially on the transverse center of: the hopper. 'The forwardly inclined bottom 26, of the hopperterminates as shown, at 30, thereby forming atransverse longitudinal -slot'or opening 31 in the bottomfof the hopper., 'Adjustably mounted on theforwardly inclinedbottom 261is an adjustable bottom member 32 which can be :i'egula-ted or adjusted for controllingthe size pfthe :opening'in. the bottom of the hopper by mea-ns of tworods 33 one of whichis shown? The rods33'are provided with crank portions Mewhich are within easy reach ,of theoperator and have their lower ends adjustably secured in brackets 34: by threaded engagement therewith. The lower ends ofv the rods 33 are preferably pivotally secured as shown at 35 in any well known manner to the adjustable bottom 32. Mounted'in the bottom adjacent the opening 31 and extending across the hopper is a roller 36' which is preferably provided with longitudinally extending peripheral ribs 37 for pulverizing and breaking the lumps of lime fed between the adjustable bottom 32 and the roller as the roller feeds the lime through the opening 31 in the bottom of the hopper. The roller 36 is preferably a steel roller and is operatively driven by a chain 38 which is geared to a sprocket 39 secured to the shaft 40 of the roller. The chain 38 is trained about a sprocket 41 which is secured to a shaft 42 rotatably mounted in an L-shaped bracket 43 which is secured by means of bolts 44 to the main frame and the hopper 14. The L-shaped bracket 43 is further secured in position by a brace 45. The sprocket 41 derives its power through one of the carrying wheels of the lime spreading machine by means of a drive chain 46 which is geared to a drive sprocket 21. The

drive chain 46 is trained on a sprocket 47 which is secured to the shaft 42.

Another important feature of my invention is the provision of""a novel means for evenly distributing the lime as it is discharged from the opening 31 in the hopper. This distributing mechanism comprises two oppositely'disposed brushes 48 and 49 which are preferably made of wire bristles in the form of rollers. The brush 49 is secured to i and adapted to rotate with the shaft 42.

The. shaft 42 is provided with a spur gear 50 which meshes with a similar spur gear 51. The gear 51 is secured to a shaft 52 which rotatably supports and operatively drives the brush 48 in co-operation with the brush 49 for evenly distributing the lime as it is fed by the roller 36 through the open- 'ing 31 ofthe hopper'14.

Another important feature of my invention is the provision 'of means for adjusting the brush 48 with respect to the brush 49. This comprises an adjusting screw 53 which is in threaded engagement with a boss 54 formed integrally with the L-shaped bracket 43. The rear end of the adjusting screw 53 is pivot-ally secured to an adjustable bearing 55. which is slidably mounted in a horizontal slot 56 formed in the horizontal portion of the L-shaped bracket 43.

It will be understood, of course, that there are two suchL-sh'aped brackets secured on the opposite sides of the hopper which are provided with corresponding adjustable parts as above described and that when it is found necessar'y to vary the pressure between the brushes 48 and 49 that the adjustable screw 53 may be adjusted so that these brushes may be relatively adjusted with respect to each other in order that a better distribution of the lime may be had. It will be noted also that the pressure between these brushes 48 and 49 may be varied so that the pulverizing action of the brushes on the lime may be had in order to adapt the brushes to the condition of the lime.

In the operation of my improved lime spreading machine it will of course be understood that the lime is loaded or placed in the container or hopper 14 and that when the clutch is shifted so that one of the car rying wheels 20 operatively drives the brushes 48 and 49 as well as the feeding or pulverizing roller 36 that the lime is discharged by the action of the feed roller through the transverse opening 31 in the hopper. And as the lime 'is discharged on the revolving brushes 48 and 49 it is further pulverized and distributed over a wide area of the ground by reason of the revolving action of the brushes.

While in the above specification I have described one embodiment which my invention may assume in practice, it will, of course, be understood that the same is capable of modification and that modification may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention as eX- pressed in the following claim.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A lime spreading machine comprising a frame mounted on carrying wheels, a hopper mounted on said frame having a transverse opening in the center thereof, said hopper having its bottom inclined toward the center thereof for conveying the lime to said opening, a roller positioned wholly within said hopper and adapted to be moved in a direction parallel to said bottom mem-' ber adjacent said opening for pulverizing the lumps of lime and for feeding the lime through said opening, oppositely disposed withsaid roller and outside said hopper for distributing the lime discharged by .said roller, and an adjustable bottom member positioned inside of said hopper. for regulating the size of said opening. I

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, on this 6th day of June A. D. 1924.

ERNST ZACHRISON.

brushes positioned adjacent to and parallel 

